Footwear system

ABSTRACT

A footwear system. A shoe sole with a sock fastener is cooperatively engaged with a sock and a shoe sole fastener. A strap is attached to the interior of the sock to adjust the sock for a tighter or looser fit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to footwear systems and more specifically to combination footwear systems for indoor and outdoor use.

One type of footwear or foot cover that has become indispensable is the sock. At home, many users prefer to wear socks because socks absorb moisture and are typically made of soft, knitted and comfortable material. Socks can absorb moisture from the feet, and in colder regions, they provide warmth and comfort inside the home. Without socks, a user's bare feet may become cold and/or uncomfortable indoors.

Socks can also be worn outside the home when inserted into outer footwear such as shoes, moccasins, tennis shoes, dress shoes or the like. Oftentimes, while wearing socks at home, a user might wish to temporarily step outside without taking off the socks and without donning shoes.

For example, the user might wish to temporarily step outside to retrieve mail, newspaper or other like articles. In such cases, wishing to prevent the bottom of the socks from becoming dirty or worn, the user typically looks for any outer footwear, shoes, slippers, sandals, etc. within the vicinity and then steps into such outer footwear before proceeding outside.

At other times, if there is no outer footwear within the immediate vicinity, the user typically removes the socks and proceeds outside with bare feet, thus exposing the user's feet to germs or other foot injuries or hazards. Alternatively, the user may simply step outside wearing only the socks with no protection for the socks (and feet).

It is within the aforementioned context that a need for the present invention has arisen. Thus, there is a need to address one or more of the foregoing disadvantages of conventional footwear systems and methods, and the present invention meets this need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects of a footwear system for both indoor and outdoor use can be found in exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

The footwear system includes a shoe sole for outdoor use. The shoe sole includes a first fastener configured to retain a sock. The sock itself includes a body portion and a sole portion. This sole portion includes a second fastener that engages with the first fastener of the shoe sole. In a further embodiment, a strap is attached to the interior of the sock to adjust the sock for a tighter or looser fit.

Thus, when the user wearing the socks steps directly on the shoe sole, the first and the second fasteners become engaged. In this manner, if the user wishes to temporarily step outside to retrieve mail, newspaper or other like articles, the user can easily step on the shoe sole before proceeding outside to prevent the bottom of the socks from becoming dirty or worn. The user need not remove the socks before proceeding outdoors and need not expose the user's feet to germs, foot injuries or other foot hazards.

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention herein may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the attached drawings. Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with respect to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a footwear system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B further illustrates the footwear system of FIG. 1A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1C further illustrates the footwear system of FIG. 1B according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a footwear system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a sock interior according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A illustrates a plan view of the shoe sole of FIG. 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a lateral view of the shoe sole of FIG. 4A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A illustrates a shoe sole according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a lateral view of the shoe sole of FIG. 5A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a user wearing the footwear system of FIG. 1A or FIG. 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as to not unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 1A illustrates footwear system 105 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1A, specifically, user 102 is shown wearing footwear system 105, which itself comprises sock 104 and shoe sole 106. As can be seen, user 102 is indoors sitting on a couch with sock 104 on his feet while shoe sole 106 is located proximate to door 107. An advantage of the present invention is that sock 104 can conveniently be worn indoors for as long as desired by user 102 in a similar fashion as any current art socks.

In FIG. 1B, user 102 can conveniently step outdoors while wearing sock 104 by stepping directly onto shoe sole 106. Unlike conventional systems and as will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 through 6, shoe sole 106 has no attached toe cover, foot strap or the like that can hinder user 102 from directly stepping onto shoe sole 106. As can be seen in FIG. 1B, user 102, wearing sock 104, has stepped onto shoe sole 106 and is about to proceed outdoors.

In FIG. 1C, user 102 has stepped outside 110 and as can be seen, is walking down a pathway wearing footwear system 105 of the present invention. Unlike conventional systems where a user would need to proceed outside without protection for his/her sock, with footwear system 105, user 102 need not proceed outside without protection for the underlying sock.

FIG. 2 illustrates footwear system 205 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, footwear system 205 comprises sock 204 and shoe sole 206. Sock 204, itself, comprises body portion 207 and a sole portion, generally indicated as 209. Body portion 207 includes opening 203 for receiving a user's foot, sock interior 312 further described with reference to FIG. 3. Body portion 207 also includes heel area 207A and closed toe portion 213.

Body portion 207 is generally made of cotton, wool, nylon, acrylic, polyester, olefins, (such as polypropylene), spandex, silk, bamboo, linen, cashmere, mohair or other like materials consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention. Body portion 207 protects and covers the upper foot area above the sole; that is, body portion 207 protects the upper foot area that is not in contact with the ground.

Sole portion 209 of sock 204 covers the lowermost foot area or sole that may be in contact with the ground. An advantage of the present invention is that sole 209 is configured to retain fastener 208, which is itself configured to engage and mate with fastener 210 described below.

In one embodiment, fastener 208 is a male fastener. In another embodiment, fastener 208 is a female fastener. Fastener 208 might be a hook and loop strip, Velcro™ or other suitable fastener consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention.

As can be seen, fastener 208 occupies substantially all of sole portion 209 and is elongated and generally T-shaped, extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the foot. Although not shown, fastener 208 need not be T-shaped but may be other shapes as desired. Fastener 208 need not be contiguous but can be formed of disjointed linear strips.

As shown, fastener 208 can extend from the heel of sole portion 209 towards the ball of the foot area of sole portion 209. Fastener 208 also extends laterally from one side of the foot to the other side of the foot. Although not shown, one skilled in the art will realize that fastener 208 can be configured in any desired suitable manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, an embodiment of footwear system 205 of the present invention also comprises shoe sole 206. As implied by its name, shoe sole 206 is an exterior shoe sole for use outdoors, outside the home to prevent corresponding sole portion 209 of sock 204 from contacting the ground thus preventing dirt, germs or other hazardous substances from reaching the foot or soiling or damaging the sock.

Shoe sole 206 is itself comprised of fastener 210 at the top surface of the shoe sole and outside sole 212 underside of shoe sole that is in direct contact with the ground when user 102 is walking outdoors. Outside sole 212 (and/or shoe sole 206) is comprised of durable leather, foam, PVC, rubber or other like material known in the art for making exterior shoe soles.

Unlike conventional systems with internal soles that are designated for use by insertion in a conventional shoe, shoe sole 206 and outside sole 212 of the present invention is the most exterior layer of footwear system 205 and it can contact the ground when user 102 is walking.

As previously noted, shoe sole 206 also has no toe covering; neither does it have a foot strap or the like attached to it to keep user 102's foot in place unlike conventional systems that employ toe coverings, foot straps or the like to secure a user's foot in place. Consequently, user 102 need not step into but can step onto shoe sole 206 from above by direct vertical contact. In other words, user 102 can step on the shoe sole 206 and go.

Shoe sole 206 further comprises fastener 210 centrally disposed and generally configured to mate with fastener 208 of sock 204. In one embodiment, fastener 210 is a male fastener in which case fastener 208 is a female fastener.

In an alternate embodiment, fastener 210 is a female fastener in which case fastener 208 is a male fastener. When user 102, wearing sock 204, aligns the sock over shoe sole 206 and then places the foot on shoe sole 206, the resulting vertical force from the user's weight causes fastener 208 and fastener 210 to engage cooperatively and become a unitary unit such that user 102 can walk outdoors wearing footwear system 205.

FIG. 3 illustrates sock interior 312 (also shown in FIG. 2) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, sock interior 312 is generally made of spun wool or cotton material that provides moisture absorption and comfort to user 102's feet. A further advantage of the present invention is that sock interior 312 includes adjustable system 315 that laterally adjusts sock 204 to form a secure fit around user 102's feet.

In FIG. 3, adjustable system 315 comprises strap 316 attached to a side edge about midway between the heel and toe areas of sock interior 312. Strap 316 itself includes either a male or female fastener 318 at its distal end. In turn, this fastener 318 is configured to engage a corresponding male or female fastener 314 that is disposed on a side edge substantially opposite the attachment location of strap 316.

In one embodiment, adjustable system 315 enables user 102 to adjust sock 204 around the foot by tightening or loosening strap 316 which in turn prevents movement in the medial, lateral, anterior and posterior directions when user 102 is using footwear system 205 for walking outside.

When user 102 observes lateral shifting, for example, user 102 can use adjustable system 315 to tighten up sock 204 to hold the sock in place by bringing fastener 318 of strap 316 in contact with fastener 314 wherein both fasteners are cooperatively mated to securely hold sock 204 in place.

FIG. 4A illustrates a plan view of shoe sole 206 of FIG. 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As can be seen in FIG. 4A, shoe sole 206 includes fastener 210 that extends from the ball of the foot area 415 to a heel area 416. As noted, fastener 210 is generally T shaped, preferably, to more securely engage a corresponding fastener 208 of sock 204 (FIG. 2). One skilled in the art will realize that fastener 210 can be shaped or sized or dimensioned as desired or as proves necessary for the particular size of the user.

FIG. 4B is a lateral view of shoe sole 206 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4B, fastener 210, as indicated, extends from front of foot area 415 to heel area 416, and the thickness of fastener 210 can be varied depending on the mating strength of fasteners that is required.

FIG. 5A illustrates shoe sole 606 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 5A, shoe sole 606 has attached to it three fasteners 610 as shown. The side view of fasteners 610 is also shown in FIG. 5B. In this embodiment, the three strips of fasteners 610 extend laterally between the two side edges of shoe sole 606.

Although not shown, corresponding similarly shaped fasteners are also present on the sole portion area of the sock to which shoe sole 606 is attached. The present configuration provides for a moderately strong attachment between shoe sole 606 and the corresponding sock while also providing easier detachability of shoe sole 606 from its sock portion.

FIG. 6 illustrates user 102 wearing footwear system 105 (or 205) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, footwear system 105 enables user 102 to cooperatively engage sock 104 and shoe sole 106 and to cooperatively detach sock 104 and shoe sole 106 when the user returns home or is indoors. Shoe sole 106 can be detached and located near a doorway or other convenient egress locations where user 102, wearing sock 104, can simply step onto shoe sole 106 before proceeding outdoors. As can be seen, fastener 208 and 210 (FIG. 2) are shown as hashed lines engaged with each other.

While the above is a complete description of exemplary specific embodiments of the invention, additional embodiments are also possible. Thus, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents. 

I claim:
 1. A footwear system for both indoor and outdoor use, the footwear system comprising: a shoe sole configured without a foot covering or a foot strap, said shoe sole configured to contact the ground as a user is walking, and wherein an insole of said shoe sole is configured to use a first fastener to retain a sock; a sock defined by a sole portion and a body portion, wherein said body portion is configured without a fastener and wherein said sole is configured to use a second fastener to retain the shoe sole; and a strap attached to the interior of the sock, the strap configured to adjust the sock for a tighter or looser fit, wherein upon said sock being worn by the user and said user stepping in a substantially vertical direction upon said shoe sole to apply a force provided by said user's weight, said first fastener is configured to be engaged with said second fastener said user is then capable of walking outside with said shoe sole contacting the ground.
 2. The footwear system of claim 1 wherein said sock and its second fastener are configured for indoor use separately from the shoe sole.
 3. The footwear system of claim 1 wherein said strap adjusts the sock for a tighter fit to secure the sock in place without movement when the user is using the footwear for walking.
 4. A footwear system comprising: a shoe sole configured for exterior use, said shoe sole contacting the ground as a user is walking, and wherein an insole of said shoe sole is configured with a sock fastener; and a sock defined by a sole portion and a body portion, wherein said body portion is configured without a fastener and wherein said sole is configured with a shoe sole fastener; wherein upon said sock being worn by the user, and said user stepping in a substantially vertical direction upon said shoe sole to apply a force provided by said user's weight, said sock fastener is configured to be engaged with said shoe sole fastener and said user is then capable of walking outside with said shoe sole contacting the ground.
 5. The footwear system of claim 4 further comprising a strap attached to the interior of the sock, the strap configured to adjust the sock for a tighter or looser fit.
 6. The footwear system of claim 5 wherein said sock and its shoe sole fastener are configured for indoor use separately from the shoe sole.
 7. The footwear system of claim 5 wherein said strap adjusts the sock for a tighter fit to secure the sock in place as the user walks with said sock and shoe sole.
 8. The footwear system of claim 5 wherein said strap adjusts the sock for a tighter fit to secure the sock in place as the user walks with said sock and shoe sole.
 9. A footwear system comprising: a shoe sole that contacts the ground as a user walks outdoors, wherein an insole of said shoe sole is configured with a sock fastener; and a sock defined by a sole portion and a body portion, wherein said body portion is configured without a fastener and wherein said sole is configured with a shoe sole fastener; wherein upon said sock being worn by the user, and said user stepping in a upon said shoe sole to apply a force provided by said user's weight, said sock fastener mates with said shoe sole fastener and said user is then capable of walking outdoors with said shoe sole contacting the ground.
 10. The footwear system of claim 9 wherein an interior of said sock includes an adjustable fastener.
 11. The footwear system of claim 9 wherein said sock and its shoe sole fastener are configured for indoor use separately from the shoe sole.
 12. The footwear system of claim 9 wherein said adjustable fastener adjusts the sock for a tighter fit to secure the sock in place as the user walks with said sock and shoe sole. 